Compost bin demonstration

In the garden, they call it black gold

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Three years ago, a friend of mine spent a fall day
driving around Springfield, collecting bags of leaves. Sure, it sounds
crazy — most homeowners can’t wait to get rid of the leaves
that pile up on their yards — but my friend was able to turn these
leaves into “black gold.” She put the leaves in a garden area
that was mostly clay soil, and a couple of years later she had beautiful
workable soil, perfect for a vegetable garden.Gardeners refer to compost as black gold because
it’s a great material for garden soil. Adding compost to clay soil
makes it easier to work and plant. Adding compost helps sandy soil hold
water. It’s easy to turn yard waste materials into a
resource that can be applied to a garden or yard. Composting, a biological
process in which organic material decomposes under aerobic (oxygen
required) conditions, is becoming more popular with home gardeners. Many
enjoy turning leaves, lawn clippings, shredded twigs, and vegetable and
food waste into something that can be used to enrich to the land. You can start a compost pile at any time of the year.
Compost bins come in many shapes and sizes and may be made of wood (e.g.,
pallets), hardware cloth, or concrete blocks. Various types of commercial
bin systems are available through local garden centers and mail-order
catalogs and Web sites. Composting of yard materials benefits the soil in
several ways. Nutrients that are removed when trimmings are bagged can be
reintroduced to the nutrient cycle, lessening the need for fertilizers. The
nutrients present in compost are released into the soil slowly, so they are
less likely to leach from the root zone than regular fertilizer is. Soil
structure — how individual soil particles combine — is improved
by the addition of organic matter. Organic matter, such as that present in
compost, helps create a structure that allows good water retention and root
penetration.The University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard
Unit is adding a compost demonstration area to the Master Gardener
Demonstration Gardens. The unit’s master gardeners invite you to join
them as they begin building three compost bins, beginning at 9 a.m., on
Saturday, Oct. 13. The program will be held in front of the U of I
Extension Building, on the state fairgrounds. One bin will be made of concrete blocks, one will be
built from recycled pallets, and the third will be constructed with
recycled-plastic boards. A materials list and directions for the various
bins will be provided. For more information, go to the University of
Illinois Extension “Composting for the Homeowner” Web site, at
web.extension.uiuc.edu/homecompost. Those with questions that are not
answered by the Web site may call 217-782-4617.

Jennifer Fishburn is a horticulture educator with the
University of Illinois Extension Sangamon Menard Unit. Contact her at
www.extension.uiuc.edu/Sangamon.